The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Thursday accused the United Progressive Alliance Government of using the ongoing session of Parliament – the last of the Lok Sabha – as a “launch pad” for its election campaign.
Referring to the disruption of both Houses of Parliament for two days in a row by the members of Andhra Pradesh – many of whom are from the Congress – CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechury said the Government had been warned at the all-party meeting earlier this week that this was bound to happen unless the ruling party put its house in order on the contentious Telangana issue.
Briefing mediapersons, Mr. Yechury said the way the Government had sought to introduce the amended Communal Violence Bill in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday without prior consultation with political parties – knowing full well there would be opposition – was a clear indication that UPA wants to manipulate Parliament.
“Their strategy is to create disruption and force legislations through without discussion. If this bid fails, the ruling party will then tell the electorate that ‘we were committed but the Opposition did not allow us to do as promised’.”
Eager to place on record that the CPI(M) has been the most steadfast advocate of the Communal Violence Bill, Mr. Yechury said the reason the party spoke against the Bill in the Rajya Sabha was because of the manner in which the Government had brought it without prior notice.
While there can be no dispute on the need for such a legislation, the question that arises is about legislative competence of Parliament to enter or encroach upon the rights of the State, he said.
The issue has also been flagged in the editorial for the forthcoming issue of the party organ People’s Democracy. The CPI(M) said while it fully supports the need for such a Bill and its provisions to prevent communal violence, speedy compensation for the victims and delivery of justice by acting firmly against the perpetrators of such violence, “the federal structure cannot be compromised, leave alone violated.”
